What does it mean to be British?

"Britishness" should be celebrated with a special day, according to the government. What does being British mean and should it be commemorated on an annual basis?

The August Bank Holiday has been suggested as a possible "Britishness" day by the Home Office minister Liam Byrne.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown - who revealed this month that he is preparing to write a book on what it means to be British - says it is all about shared values.

What does being British really mean? Have you recently become a British citizen? What are the best aspects of being British? What is the worst thing about being British?

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• British
• Britishness
• Government
• Celebrated
• Liam
• Byrne
• Prime
• Minister
• Gordon
• Brown

[iammorepunkrockthanu]

it used to be the fact that i was proud of my country and what we have been through as a nation to get where we are, but we are gettin dragged down by useless politicians that dont know there arse from there elbow. countless men in world war 1 and 2 died for what ?? so people can come from thousands of miles away to tell us that there offended by the way we live ? it actually sickens me that the government let it happen. stop being PC and start being proud to be british for once.

[MrCharliePink]

@toppaz79 how am i pathetic for calling myself English? i was born and raised in England and have no Scottish or Welsh blood. the Scottish joined our Kingdom cause they were poor and could avoid taxes by uniting, same with Ireland but broke away in 1922 which is why they are now divided. Wales was never a kingdom which is why there flag is not in the Union Jack which is why i call myself English, Great Britain only formed for trade i dont believe its a nationality

[georgeamery]

stop thinking about all this.I am 66 and have utterly no idea what being British is?I do think this "citizenship" ceremony thingy is awful,and means nothing at all.In Britain you dont have to be patriotic (you arent supposed to be the opposite,of course) being patriotic is a sort of hobby something you do if you want to.

[toppaz79]

Whats all this 'I'm not british, I'm English' or 'I'm not British I'm Celtic'. There's a lot of ignorant people out there!

Just to clarify. Nationality is geographical not emotional. So if you were born in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland... you're British. It's not something you can opt out of. And the reason you have so little in your life to worry about, that your big concern is your Identity is thanks to British men who fought, and continue to fight for you. You're pathetic.

[britishvaluesforever]

When you vote BNP your British! VOTE BNP ON 4TH OF JUNE IF YOU WANT YOU COUNTRY BACK

[CountChocula101]

I don't why people feel the need to celebrate Britishness? It's nothing but a culture of tea drinking, crumpet eating, faggy voiced pussies. America is where it's at bitches!

jk

[feurzug]

There is no more England - forever - this generation gave away their culture and the British ethnic identity... gave it away out of fear of being called racist by the liberals that took over.

[ahmads786]

why not?

what's the diffrence?

isnt english our language?

[peacewillcomesoon]

fuck that!!! what is it with all this supremist shit?! I'm 'British', but only by chance. This sort of stuff just serves to divide humans.

YOU ARE HUMAN FIRST, THEN PART OF YOUR RACE, THEN PART OF YOUR COUNTRY.

It's sad really...because we could then say, you're then part of your city, then your town, your street, your family.

Represent who you want, but remember you are human first!

[colombian81]

Salman Rushdie said he wanted to fornicate with the Queen and that the british were a nation of sister-f**kers in his book The Satanic Verses...and got a knighthood for it!

Explain that one!!!

[stupidcunts]

i would never consider myself to be british,i am english.